Living the Example in His
Word- 1-5-15
Do you live your life in a
way that you are an example of Christ?
The Word of God tells us
what to do to get saved.
But
what does it say? “The
word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”
(that is, the word of faith which we preach): that
if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one
believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation. For
the Scripture says, “Whoever
believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For
there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is
rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the
name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans
10:8-13
But how will others know
that they too need salvation if we keep it to ourselves?
Our job is to share it, or
testify to those around us in word and in deed.
How then shall
they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in
Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are
sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who
preach the gospel of peace. Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:14-15
We can tell others by living
our lives, as we have discussed before being ourselves; living a life that is
pleasing to God, obeying His direction, loving one another unconditionally as
humanly possible and such; this is living out our testimony. We can teach
others by leading a Bible study, a life study or a small group gathering that
focuses on right living according to His Word. In this we will give examples
strictly according to the Word, not the world’s view.
The most influential thing a
person can do is to show how true we are to God. I do not mean going around
saying verbally; “I am a Christian so I am perfect, the most wise person, the knowledgeable
one, the one with a connection to God.” But to live a life that says, shows and
demonstrates that God is love and those who know Him know that we mess up at
times but when we do He picks us up, dusts us off, puts us back on our feet and
says “try again my child”.
Sometimes our outward
appearance does not reflect our inner heart, or so we think.
If you look around you in
your life you can probably prove that is not the fact. There are people wearing
facades around you and I. They walk around pretending that all is well when
inside they are torn and tattered.
Many years ago I used an
unmade bed as an example. We can pull up
the bed spread and tuck in the pillows even toss a few fancy looking ones on
top; but if the sheets are not tucked into their place there will be lumps in
the bed. When you go to get into the bed there will be cold air slipping in
because your feet will not be evenly covered.
However you made your bed
you have to lay in it.
If we take the time to
follow the steps that our Bible, the Word of God, gives us we can make our
heart’s clean and clear of rumpled sheets and clear away the lumps to start
with.
The Bible tells us again and
again to work on our heart because that is what God sees when He looks at us.
The question is will He see a heart full of strife, or full of peace? Will He
see an obedient heart, or one that is rebellious trying to get away without
doing exactly what is told but skirting the edge and calling it clean.
If we take the time to make
the bed properly there will be no lumps in the day and there will be more
efficient rest at night.
One more thought n the bed;
if we do not tuck it in we leave it open for intruders. Spiders or lizards have
been known to find away into unmade beds. As a child in Clear Lake California
we were told to check our beds for lizards at night before going to sleep. If
the blankets and sheets were tucked tight enough we were safe, but if we had
napped and left them loose sure enough there would be a lizard in there.
If we choose to make our
lives according to God’s plan book, living according to His word then we will
keep the junk from causing us harm or fear.
When we live our lives
accordingly it will show.
How?
Praying to God
regularly--shows up in patience, mercy and love that you convey as you deal
with other human beings, and sometimes even animals that irritate you normally.
We find more peace as well and that shows in our countenance. If you do not believe me look back to a photo
of yourself before Christ, and now. The fruit is in your face!
Singing and making Melody in
our hearts to the Lord—shows obviously that we love the Lord. When we do not
just sing the words of the praise and worship songs both at church and on the
radio the popular style of singing about God, but we put it to heart and sing
to, and praise, and worship God Himself in songs and hymns both telling Him of
what we feel; we will produce so much fruit!
Songs tend to reach out to more people than words or life styles sometimes.
Our singing a song as we walk around the block or wandering through the grocery
store can minister to someone today.
So to recap; know that you
are saved with a purpose an that purpose is to share what you know. Be a
fruitful servant of God; cultivate your seeds in the Word, water them in Prayer
and fertilize them with praise songs. God will see an obedient upright heart
when He looks at you and will cause the fruit to flourish and grow!
Dear Heavenly Father, Guide
us in our steps that we may be found with out spot or wrinkle tempered by Your
presence by your Holy Spirit and be known by our good fruits. In Jesus name,
amen.
Suggested Reading
2 Timothy 3:1-17 and 2:Timothy 4:1-18.